Resonant Switching Power Converter

Abstract

A resonant switching power converter includes: a first power stage circuit; a second power stage circuit; a controller; and a current sensing circuit for sensing a first charging or discharging resonant current flowing through a first charging or discharging inductor of the first power stage circuit, and for sensing a second charging or discharging resonant current flowing through a second charging or discharging inductor of the second power stage circuit, thereby generating first and second current sensing signals respectively. The controller adjusts at least one of the following based on the first and second current sensing signals so that the output currents of the first and second power stage circuits are in a fixed ratio: a first delay time of a first charging procedure, a second delay time of a first discharging procedure, a third delay time of a second charging procedure, a fourth delay time of a second discharging procedure, and two input voltages.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a resonant switching power converter, and in particular to a resonant switching power converter capable of achieving current balance control. Background Art

[0002] Figure 1 A conventional power converter is shown. During charging operation, switches Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 are conductive, while switches Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, and Q10 are non-conductive, placing capacitors C1, C2, and C3 in series between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout. During discharging operation, switches Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, and Q10 are conductive, while switches Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4 are non-conductive, placing capacitors C1, C2, and C3 in parallel between the ground potential and the output voltage Vout. The capacitors and switches in this conventional power converter can generate very large inrush currents. Therefore, in other conventional power converters, inductors and capacitors are appropriately positioned to form a resonant switching power converter to reduce inrush currents. However, when two or more conventional resonant switching power converters are operated in parallel, the infinite number of current operating combinations can lead to current imbalance if not properly controlled.

[0003] In view of this, the present invention addresses the above-mentioned deficiencies in the prior art and proposes a resonant switching power converter that can ensure current balance when multiple converters are connected in parallel. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In one aspect, the present invention provides a resonant switching power converter for converting one or two input voltages into an output voltage. The resonant switching power converter includes: a first power stage circuit, comprising: a plurality of first capacitors; at least one first charging inductor; at least one first discharging inductor; and a plurality of first switches for switching the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding plurality of first capacitors, the at least one first charging inductor, and the at least one first discharging inductor; a second power stage circuit, comprising: a plurality of second capacitors; at least one second charging inductor; at least one second discharging inductor; and a plurality of second switches for switching the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding plurality of second capacitors, the at least one second charging inductor, and the at least one second discharging inductor. relationship; and a controller for periodically operating the corresponding plurality of first switches and the corresponding plurality of second switches in a corresponding first charging procedure, a second charging procedure, at least one first discharging procedure, and at least one second discharging procedure, respectively; wherein, in the first charging procedure, the switching of the plurality of first switches is controlled so that the plurality of first capacitors and the at least one first charging inductor are connected in series between the one or two input voltages and the output voltage to form a first charging path; wherein, in the at least one first discharging procedure, the switching of the plurality of first switches is controlled so that each first capacitor and the corresponding first discharging inductor are connected in series between the output voltage and a ground potential, thereby simultaneously or alternately forming a plurality of first discharging paths. wherein, in the second charging process, the switching of the plurality of second switches is controlled so that the plurality of second capacitors and the at least one second charging inductor are connected in series between the one or two input voltages and the output voltage to form a second charging path; wherein, in the at least one second discharging process, the switching of the plurality of second switches is controlled so that each second capacitor and the corresponding second discharging inductor are connected in series between the output voltage and a ground potential, thereby simultaneously forming or alternately forming a plurality of second discharging paths; wherein the controller is further configured to adjust at least one of the following according to a first current sensing signal and a second current sensing signal so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in a fixed ratio : a first delay time, a second delay time, a third delay time and a fourth delay time, or the two input voltages; wherein the first delay time is used to delay the starting time of the first charging process, the second delay time is used to delay the starting time of the at least one first discharging process, the third delay time is used to delay the starting time of the second charging process, and the fourth delay time is used to delay the starting time of the at least one second discharging process; wherein the first current sensing signal is related to a first inductor current of the at least one first charging inductor and / or the at least one first discharging inductor, and wherein the second current sensing signal is related to a second inductor current of the at least one second charging inductor and / or the at least one second discharging inductor.

[0005] In one embodiment, the at least one first charging inductor is a first single charging inductor, the at least one first discharging inductor is a first single discharging inductor, the at least one second charging inductor is a second single charging inductor, and the at least one second discharging inductor is a second single discharging inductor.

[0006] In one embodiment, the at least one first charging inductor and the at least one first discharging inductor are a first single identical inductor, and the at least one second charging inductor and the at least one second discharging inductor are a second single identical inductor.

[0007] In one embodiment, the controller includes at least one current sensing circuit, which includes: at least one voltage sensing circuit for sensing a voltage difference across the at least one first charging inductor and / or the at least one first discharging inductor to generate a first voltage sensing signal accordingly; and for sensing a voltage difference across the at least one second charging inductor and / or the at least one second discharging inductor to generate a second voltage sensing signal accordingly, wherein the first voltage sensing signal is related to a voltage across a parasitic resistor of the at least one first charging inductor and / or the at least one first discharging inductor, and the second voltage sensing signal is related to a voltage across a parasitic resistor of the at least one second charging inductor and / or the at least one second discharging inductor; and at least one conversion circuit for generating the first current sensing signal and the second current sensing signal according to the first voltage sensing signal and the second voltage sensing signal, respectively.

[0008] In one embodiment, the controller further includes: an averaging circuit for averaging the first current sensing signal and the second current sensing signal to generate a current average signal; and at least one adjustment circuit for comparing the current average signal with the first current sensing signal and / or comparing the current average signal with the second current sensing signal to generate an adjustment signal, and adjusting at least one of the following so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio: the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time and the fourth delay time, or the two input voltages.

[0009] In one embodiment, the fixed ratio is 1:1.

[0010] In one embodiment, the controller further includes: at least one delay circuit for generating the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time according to the adjustment signal, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio.

[0011] In one embodiment, the controller adjusts at least one of the following so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio: when the first current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, the first delay time and / or the second delay time are extended; when the first current sensing signal is less than the current average signal, the first delay time and / or the second delay time are shortened; when the second current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time are extended; and / or when the second current sensing signal is less than the current average signal, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time are shortened.

[0012] In one embodiment, the two input voltages include a first input voltage and a second input voltage, corresponding to the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit, respectively, wherein the controller adjusts at least one of the following so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio: when the first current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, reducing the first input voltage; when the first current sensing signal is less than the current average signal, increasing the first input voltage; when the second current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, reducing the second input voltage; and / or when the second current sensing signal is less than the current average signal, increasing the second input voltage.

[0013] In one embodiment, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit perform corresponding charging and discharging processes alternately.

[0014] In one embodiment, the resonant switching power converter is a bidirectional resonant switching power converter.

[0015] In one embodiment, a voltage conversion ratio between the one or two input voltages and the output voltage of the resonant switching power converter is 4:1, 3:1, or 2:1.

[0016] In another aspect, the present invention provides a resonant switching power converter for converting one or two input voltages into an output voltage. The resonant switching power converter includes: a first power stage circuit, including: at least one first resonant cavity, the first resonant cavity having a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant inductor connected in series; at least one first non-resonant capacitor; and a plurality of first switches coupled to the at least one first resonant cavity and the at least one first non-resonant capacitor for switching the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first resonant cavity and the at least one first non-resonant capacitor, wherein in a first resonant process, the corresponding first resonant cavity is resonantly charged. , wherein in a second resonance process, the corresponding first resonant cavity is resonantly discharged, wherein the voltage across the first non-resonant capacitor is maintained in a fixed proportion to the one or two input voltages; a second power stage circuit comprising: at least one second resonant cavity, the second resonant cavity having a second resonant capacitor and a second resonant inductor connected in series; at least one second non-resonant capacitor; a plurality of second switches coupled to the at least one second resonant cavity and the at least one second non-resonant capacitor for switching the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding second resonant cavity and the at least one second non-resonant capacitor; wherein in a third resonance process, the corresponding second resonant cavity is resonated charging, wherein in a fourth resonance process, the corresponding second resonant cavity is resonantly discharged, wherein the voltage across the second non-resonant capacitor is maintained in a fixed proportion to the one or two input voltages; and a controller for periodically operating the corresponding plurality of first switches and the corresponding plurality of second switches in the corresponding first resonance process, the second resonance process, the third resonance process, and the fourth resonance process, respectively, to perform corresponding resonant charging and resonant discharging; wherein the controller is further configured to adjust at least one of the following according to a first current sensing signal and a second current sensing signal, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit is proportional to the output current of the second The output current of the power stage circuit is in a fixed ratio of: a first delay time, a second delay time, a third delay time, and a fourth delay time, or the two input voltages; wherein the first delay time is used to delay the starting time of the first resonance process, the second delay time is used to delay the starting time of the second resonance process, the third delay time is used to delay the starting time of the third resonance process, and the fourth delay time is used to delay the starting time of the fourth resonance process; wherein the first current sensing signal is related to a first inductor current of the first resonant inductor, and wherein the second current sensing signal is related to a second inductor current of the second resonant inductor.

[0017] In one embodiment, the controller includes at least one current sensing circuit, the at least one current sensing circuit including: at least one voltage sensing circuit for sensing a voltage difference across the first resonant inductor and generating a first voltage sensing signal accordingly, and for sensing a voltage difference across the second resonant inductor and generating a second voltage sensing signal accordingly, wherein the first voltage sensing signal is related to a voltage across a parasitic resistor of the at least one first resonant inductor, and the second voltage sensing signal is related to a voltage across a parasitic resistor of the at least one second resonant inductor; and at least one conversion circuit for generating the first current sensing signal and the second current sensing signal according to the first voltage sensing signal and the second voltage sensing signal, respectively.

[0018] An advantage of the present invention is that the present invention can achieve current balancing control in a resonant switching power converter having multiple power stage circuits without requiring an additional front-end voltage regulator for current balancing control.

[0019] Another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention does not require an additional current sensing resistor and can reduce inrush current.

[0020] Another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention has higher efficiency compared to conventional power converters.

[0021] The following detailed description through specific embodiments will make it easier to understand the purpose, technical content, characteristics and effects achieved by the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional power converter.

[0023] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a controller and a current sensing circuit in a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing signal waveforms of related signals of a first power stage circuit of a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 7 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0029] Figure 8 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure 9 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a controller and a current sensing circuit in a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0031] Figure 10 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0032] Figure 11 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Figure 12 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0034] Figure 13 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0035] Figure 14 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a controller and a current sensing circuit in a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0036] Figure 15 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] Figure 16 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 17 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] Figure 18 FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0040] Explanation of Figure Symbols

[0041] 20, 50, 60, 70, 80, 100, 110, 120, 130, 150, 160, 170, 180: Resonant switching power converter

[0042] 201, 501, 601, 701, 801, 1001, 1101, 1201, 1301, 1501, 1601, 1701, 1801: First power stage circuit

[0043] 202, 502, 602, 702, 802, 1002, 1102, 1202, 1302, 1502, 1602, 1702, 1802: Second power stage circuit

[0044] 203, 503, 603, 703, 803, 1003, 1103, 1203, 1303, 1503, 1603, 1703: controllers

[0045] 2031, 8031, 13031: average circuit

[0046] 2032a, 2032b, 8032a, 8032b, 13032a, 13032b: Adjustment circuit

[0047] 2033a, 2033b, 13033a, 13033b: Delay circuits

[0048] 204, 504, 604, 704, 804, 1004, 1104, 1204, 1304, 1504, 1604, 1704: Current sensing circuits

[0049] 2041a, 2041b, 8041a, 8041b, 13041, 13041b: Voltage sensing circuits

[0050] 2042a, 2042b, 8042a, 8042b, 13042a, 13042b: Conversion circuits

[0051] 205, 505, 605, 705, 805, 1005, 1105, 1205, 1305, 1505, 1605, 1705, 1805: switch drivers

[0052] 706-709: Resonant cavity

[0053] C1~C3: (first) capacitor

[0054] C11~C13: Second capacitor

[0055] Co: output capacitance

[0056] Cs1, Cs2: capacitors

[0057] DCR1, DCR2: resistors

[0058] G1: First resonant operation signal

[0059] G1A: First charging operation signal

[0060] G1B: First discharge operation signal

[0061] G2: Second resonant operation signal

[0062] G2A: Second charging operation signal

[0063] G2B: Second discharge operation signal

[0064] G3: The third resonance operation signal

[0065] G4: Fourth resonance operation signal

[0066] G1A', G1B', G2A', G2B': driving signals

[0067] G1x', G1y', G1z', G2x', G2y', G2z': driving signals

[0068] G1', G2', G3', G4': drive signals

[0069] gm: transduction value

[0070] I1: First current sensing signal

[0071] I2: Second current sensing signal

[0072] Iavg: current average signal

[0073] IL1: First inductor current

[0074] IL11: Second inductor current

[0075] L1: First (resonant) inductor

[0076] L11: Second (resonant) inductor

[0077] L12: Second (discharge / resonance) inductor

[0078] L13: Second (charging) inductor

[0079] L2: First (discharge / resonance) inductor

[0080] L3: First (charging) inductor

[0081] Q1~Q10: (first) switch

[0082] Q11~Q20: Second switch

[0083] Rcs1, Rcs2: resistors

[0084] RL: load resistance

[0085] Ta1, Ta2: Delay time adjustment signal

[0086] td1: first delay time

[0087] td2: second delay time

[0088] Va1, Va2: input voltage adjustment signal

[0089] Vin, Vin1, Vin2: input voltage

[0090] Vout: output voltage DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0091] The drawings in the present invention are schematic diagrams, mainly intended to illustrate the coupling relationship between various circuits and the relationship between various signal waveforms. The circuits, signal waveforms and frequencies are not drawn according to scale.

[0092] Figure 2 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 As shown, the resonant switching power converter 20 of the present invention includes a first power stage circuit 201 and a second power stage circuit 202. The first power stage circuit 201 and the second power stage circuit 202 are connected in parallel between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout. The first power stage circuit 201 includes first capacitors C1, C2, and C3, first switches Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, and Q10, and a first inductor L1. The first switches Q1-Q3 are connected in series with the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3, respectively, while the first switch Q4 is connected in series with the first inductor L1. The first switches Q1-Q3 are connected in series with the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3, respectively, while the first switch Q4 is connected in series with the first inductor L1.

[0093] The second power stage circuit 202 includes second capacitors C11, C12, and C13, second switches Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, and Q20, and a second inductor L11. The second switches Q11-Q13 are connected in series with the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13, respectively, while the second switch Q14 is connected in series with the second inductor L11. It should be noted that the number of capacitors in the resonant switching power converter of the present invention is not limited to three as in this embodiment, but may also be two or four or more. The number of components shown in this embodiment is merely illustrative and not limiting of the present invention. In one embodiment, the first inductor L1 and the second inductor L11 may be variable inductors.

[0094] like Figure 2As shown, one end of the first switch Q5 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q1 and the first capacitor C1, one end of the first switch Q6 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q2 and the first capacitor C2, and one end of the first switch Q7 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q3 and the first capacitor C3. One end of the first switch Q8 is coupled to the node between the first capacitor C1 and the first switch Q2, one end of the first switch Q9 is coupled to the node between the first capacitor C2 and the first switch Q3, and one end of the first switch Q10 is coupled to the node between the first capacitor C3 and the first switch Q4. Figure 2 As shown, the other ends of the first switches Q5-Q7 are electrically connected to a node, which is then coupled to a node between the first switch Q4 and the first inductor L1. The other ends of the first switches Q8-Q10 are coupled to ground. The other end of the first inductor L1 is coupled to the output voltage Vout, and the other end of the first switch Q1 is coupled to the input voltage Vin.

[0095] Please refer to Figure 2 One end of the second switch Q15 is coupled to a node between the second switch Q11 and the second capacitor C11, one end of the second switch Q16 is coupled to a node between the second switch Q12 and the second capacitor C12, and one end of the second switch Q17 is coupled to a node between the second switch Q13 and the second capacitor C13. One end of the second switch Q18 is coupled to a node between the second capacitor C11 and the second switch Q12, one end of the second switch Q19 is coupled to a node between the second capacitor C12 and the second switch Q13, and one end of the second switch Q20 is coupled to a node between the second capacitor C13 and the second switch Q14. Figure 2 As shown, the other ends of the second switches Q15-Q17 are electrically connected to a node, which is then coupled to a node between the second switch Q14 and the second inductor L11. The other ends of the second switches Q18-Q20 are coupled to ground. The other end of the second inductor L11 is coupled to the output voltage Vout, and the other end of the second switch Q11 is coupled to the input voltage Vin.

[0096] The controller 203 is configured to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B, and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, respectively corresponding to a first charging procedure, a second charging procedure, at least one first discharging procedure, and at least one second discharging procedure, and respectively operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing a controller and a current sensing circuit in a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2An embodiment of the controller 203 and the current sensing circuit 204. In one embodiment, the controller 203 further includes delay circuits 2033a and 2033b for delaying the start time of the first charging process by a first delay time and / or the start time of the at least one first discharging process by a second delay time, and for delaying the start time of the second charging process by a third delay time and / or the start time of the at least one second discharging process by a fourth delay time.

[0097] Please refer to Figure 2 At least one current sensing circuit 204 is coupled to the first inductor L1 and the second inductor L11, and is configured to sense a first charging resonant current flowing through the first inductor L1 during a first charging process and / or a first discharging resonant current flowing through the first inductor L1 during a first discharging process, thereby generating a first current sensing signal I1, respectively. Furthermore, the controller 203 is configured to sense a second charging resonant current flowing through the second inductor L11 during a second charging process and / or a second discharging resonant current flowing through the second inductor L11 during a second discharging process, thereby generating a second current sensing signal I2, respectively. A controller 203 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 204 and is configured to adjust at least one of the following based on the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 201 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 202 are in a fixed ratio: a first delay time, a second delay time, a third delay time, and a fourth delay time.

[0098] The switch driver 205 is coupled between the controller 203 and the plurality of first switches Q1-Q10, and between the controller 203 and the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20. The switch driver 205 is configured to control the plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 based on the first charging operation signal G1A or the first discharging operation signal G1B, and to control the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 based on the second charging operation signal G2A or the second discharging operation signal G2B. Specifically, the plurality of switch drivers 205 shown in the figure generate corresponding driving signals G1A', G1B', G2A', and G2B' based on the first charging operation signal G1A, the first discharging operation signal G1B, the second charging operation signal G2A, and the second discharging operation signal G2B, respectively, to drive the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20. In one embodiment, the driving signals G1A′, G1B′, G2A′, and G2B′ are in phase with the corresponding first charging operation signal G1A, first discharging operation signal G1B, second charging operation signal G2A, and second discharging operation signal G2B.

[0099] Refer again Figure 2The first switches Q1-Q10 can switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the first inductor L1 according to the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B generated by the controller 203. The second switches Q11-Q20 can switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13 and the second inductor L11 according to the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B generated by the controller 203. In a first charging process, the first switches Q1-Q4 are controlled to be conductive and the first switches Q5-Q10 are controlled to be non-conductive according to the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B, so that the first capacitors C1-C3 are connected in series with each other and the first inductor L1 between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout, thereby forming a first charging path. In a first discharge process, the first switches Q5-Q10 are controlled to be conductive and the first switches Q1-Q4 to be non-conductive according to the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B, so that the first capacitors C1, C2, and C3 are connected in parallel and then in series with the first inductor L1, thereby forming a plurality of first discharge paths.

[0100] Similarly, in a second charging process, the second switches Q11-Q14 are controlled to be conductive and the second switches Q15-Q20 are controlled to be non-conductive based on the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B. This causes the second capacitors C11-C13 to be connected in series with each other and the second inductor L11 between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout, thereby forming a second charging path. In a second discharging process, the second switches Q15-Q20 are controlled to be conductive and the second switches Q11-Q14 are controlled to be non-conductive based on the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B. This causes the second capacitors C11, C12, and C13 to be connected in parallel with each other and connected in series with the second inductor L11, thereby forming multiple second discharging paths.

[0101] It should be noted that the first charging process and the first discharging process are repeatedly interleaved and performed in different time periods, rather than simultaneously, and the second charging process and the second discharging process are repeatedly interleaved and performed in different time periods, rather than simultaneously. The first charging process and the first discharging process are each repeatedly interleaved and performed, and the second charging process and the second discharging process are each repeatedly interleaved and performed, so that the energy provided by the input voltage Vin is used to resonantly charge the aforementioned capacitors and inductors in the charging process, and to resonantly discharge the energy in the aforementioned capacitors and inductors in the discharging process, thereby converting the energy into the output voltage Vout. In this embodiment, the DC bias voltage of each of the first capacitors C1, C2, C3 and the second capacitors C11, C12, C13 is Vo. Therefore, the first capacitors C1, C2, C3 and the second capacitors C11, C12, C13 in this embodiment need to withstand a lower rated voltage, so smaller capacitors can be used.

[0102] In one embodiment, the resonant switching power converter 20 may be a bidirectional resonant switching power converter. A bidirectional resonant switching power converter is one in which the roles of the input terminal (providing the input voltage Vin) and the output terminal (providing the output voltage Vout) are reversed. Figure 2 In the embodiment shown, the resonant switching power converter 20 can convert the output voltage Vout to the input voltage Vin. In one embodiment, the voltage conversion ratio between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout of the resonant switching power converter 20 can be 4:1, 3:1, or 2:1.

[0103] In one embodiment, the voltage conversion ratio of the resonant switching power converter 20 can be flexibly adjusted. For example, during the first charging process and the first discharging process, by selecting to keep the first switch Q7 conductive and the first switches Q10 and Q4 non-conductive, the voltage conversion ratio of the first power stage circuit 201 can be adjusted to 3:1. Similarly, by selecting to keep the first switch Q6 conductive and the first switches Q9, Q3, Q7, Q10, and Q4 non-conductive, the voltage conversion ratio of the first power stage circuit 201 can be adjusted to 2:1. Similarly, by selecting to keep the second switch Q7 conductive and the second switches Q10 and Q4 non-conductive, the voltage conversion ratio of the second power stage circuit 202 can be adjusted to 3:1 during the second charging process and the second discharging process. Similarly, for example, the second switch Q6 may be kept turned on, and the second switches Q9 , Q3 , Q7 , Q10 , and Q4 may be kept turned off, so that the voltage conversion ratio of the second power stage circuit 202 can be adjusted to 2:1.

[0104] Please refer to Figure 3In one embodiment, the current sensing circuit 204 includes at least one voltage sensing circuit 2041a and 2041b. The voltage sensing circuit 2041a is configured to sense the voltage difference (L1A-L1B) across the first inductor L1 and generate a corresponding first voltage sensing signal. The voltage sensing circuit 2041b is configured to sense the voltage difference (L2A-L2B) across the second inductor L11 and generate a corresponding second voltage sensing signal. In one embodiment, the voltage sensing circuits 2041a and 2041b each include a resistor Rcs1 and a resistor Rcs2, coupled to one side of the first inductor L1 and one side of the second inductor L11, respectively. The voltage sensing circuits 2041a and 2041b each further include a capacitor Cs1 and a capacitor Cs2, coupled to the other side of the first inductor L1 and the other side of the second inductor L11, respectively. As known to those skilled in the art, in one embodiment, the resistor Rcs1 , the resistor Rcs2 , the capacitor Cs1 , and the capacitor Cs2 of the voltage sensing circuits 2041 a and 2041 b may adopt a DCR current detection architecture, and thus the description of the principle thereof is omitted here.

[0105] The current sensing circuit 204 further includes at least one conversion circuit 2042a and 2042b, respectively coupled to the output terminals of the at least one voltage sensing circuit 2041a and 2041b, for generating the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 based on the first voltage sensing signal and the second voltage sensing signal, respectively. In one embodiment, the at least one conversion circuit 2042a and 2042b may be a transconductance amplifier, respectively, for converting the first voltage sensing signal and the second voltage sensing signal into the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 based on a transconductance value gm. The first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 are respectively proportional to the first inductor current IL1 and the second inductor current IL11.

[0106] It should be noted that the current sensing circuit 204 described above uses a DCR current detection architecture as an embodiment. However, this is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. In other embodiments, other current detection methods may be used to sense the currents of the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit. For example, a current sensing resistor may be connected in series with the current path to sense the current, or the voltage across a switch (e.g., Q4, Q7, Q14, and Q17) may be sensed to sense the current. The corresponding current sensing signal can still be controlled through the aforementioned averaging and comparison, and the same applies hereinafter.

[0107] In one embodiment, the fixed ratio may be 1:1 to achieve current balance. Figure 3As shown, the controller 203 further includes an averaging circuit 2031 coupled to the at least one current sensing circuit 204 for averaging the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 to generate an average current signal Iavg. In this embodiment, the controller 203 may further include at least one adjustment circuit 2032a and 2032b coupled to the averaging circuit 2031 and the at least one current sensing circuit 204 for comparing the average current signal Iavg with the first current sensing signal I1 or the second current sensing signal I2 to generate delay time adjustment signals Ta1 and Ta2 to delay circuits 2033a and 2033b, respectively. The delay circuits 2033a and 2033b respectively modify the first and second delay times, or the third and fourth delay times, according to the delay time adjustment signals Ta1 and Ta2, to generate the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B and the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B, respectively, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 201 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 202 are in the fixed ratio.

[0108] In one embodiment, when the first current sensing signal I1 is greater than the current average signal Iavg, the first delay time and / or the second delay time may be extended. When the first current sensing signal I1 is less than the current average signal Iavg, the first delay time and / or the second delay time may be shortened. When the second current sensing signal I2 is greater than the current average signal Iavg, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time may be extended. When the second current sensing signal I2 is less than the current average signal Iavg, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time may be shortened.

[0109] Figure 4 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing signal waveforms of related signals of the first power stage circuit 201 of a resonant switching power converter 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The inductor current, inductor voltage, first charging operation signal G1A and first discharging operation signal G1B are shown in FIG. Figure 4 As shown. Figure 4 As can be seen, td1 is the first delay time, and td2 is the second delay time. In this embodiment, extending the first delay time td1 and / or the second delay time td2 can reduce the first inductor current IL1. Conversely, shortening the first delay time td1 and / or the second delay time td2 can increase the first inductor current IL1, so that the first inductor current IL1 and the second inductor current IL11 form a fixed ratio. This, in turn, can ensure that the output current of the first power stage circuit 201 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 202 form a fixed ratio. The operating strategy of the second power stage circuit 202 is similar to that of the first power stage circuit 201 and is therefore omitted.

[0110] In one embodiment, the delay times of the first power stage circuit 201 and the second power stage circuit 202 can be adjusted simultaneously so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 201 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 202 are in the fixed ratio. In another embodiment, the delay time of only one of the first power stage circuit 201 and the second power stage circuit 202 can be adjusted to also make the output current of the first power stage circuit 201 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 202 in the fixed ratio.

[0111] Figure 5 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The difference between the embodiment of the present invention and the present invention is that the power stage circuit of this embodiment is equipped with a charging inductor and a discharging inductor in the charging path and the discharging path, respectively. Specifically, the first power stage circuit 501 uses a first charging inductor L3 and a first discharging inductor L2, and the second power stage circuit 502 of this embodiment uses a second charging inductor L13 and a second discharging inductor L12. The first power stage circuit 501 and the second power stage circuit 502 are connected in parallel between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout.

[0112] like Figure 5 As shown, the first power stage circuit 501 of the resonant switching power converter 50 of the present invention includes first capacitors C1, C2, C3, first switches Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, a first charging inductor L3, and a first discharging inductor L2, while the second power stage circuit 502 includes second capacitors C11, C12, C13, second switches Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, a second charging inductor L13, and a second discharging inductor L12. The first switches Q1-Q3 are connected in series with the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3, respectively, the first switch Q4 is connected in series with the first charging inductor L3, the second switches Q11-Q13 are connected in series with the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13, respectively, and the second switch Q14 is connected in series with the second charging inductor L13. It should be noted that the number of capacitors in the resonant switching power converter of the present invention is not limited to three as in this embodiment, but may also be two or more than four. The number of components shown in this embodiment is merely for the purpose of illustrating the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. In one embodiment, the inductance of the first charging inductor L3 may be equal to the inductance of the first discharging inductor L2, and the inductance of the second charging inductor L13 may be equal to the inductance of the second discharging inductor L12. In another embodiment, the inductance of the first charging inductor L3 and the inductance of the first discharging inductor L2 may be configured in an appropriate ratio so that the resonant frequencies of the charging process and the discharging process are equal. The operating strategy of the second power stage circuit 202 is the same as that of the first power stage circuit 201 and is therefore omitted.

[0113] like Figure 5 As shown, one end of the first switch Q5 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q1 and the first capacitor C1, one end of the first switch Q6 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q2 and the first capacitor C2, and one end of the first switch Q7 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q3 and the first capacitor C3. One end of the first switch Q8 is coupled to the node between the first capacitor C1 and the first switch Q2, one end of the first switch Q9 is coupled to the node between the first capacitor C2 and the first switch Q3, and one end of the first switch Q10 is coupled to the node between the first capacitor C3 and the first switch Q4. Figure 5 As shown, the other ends of the first switches Q5-Q7 are commonly electrically connected to a node and then connected in series to the first discharge inductor L2. The other ends of the first switches Q8-Q10 are commonly coupled to ground. The other ends of the first charging inductor L3 and the first discharge inductor L2 are commonly coupled to the output voltage Vout, and the other end of the first switch Q1 is coupled to the input voltage Vin.

[0114] Similarly, if Figure 5 As shown, one end of the second switch Q15 is coupled to the node between the second switch Q11 and the second capacitor C11, one end of the second switch Q16 is coupled to the node between the second switch Q12 and the second capacitor C12, and one end of the second switch Q17 is coupled to the node between the second switch Q13 and the second capacitor C13. One end of the second switch Q18 is coupled to the node between the second capacitor C11 and the second switch Q12, one end of the second switch Q19 is coupled to the node between the second capacitor C12 and the second switch Q13, and one end of the second switch Q20 is coupled to the node between the second capacitor C13 and the second switch Q14. Figure 5 As shown, the other ends of the second switches Q15-Q17 are commonly electrically connected to a node and then connected in series to the second discharge inductor L12. The other ends of the second switches Q18-Q20 are commonly coupled to ground. The other ends of the second charging inductor L13 and the second discharge inductor L12 are commonly coupled to the output voltage Vout, and the other end of the second switch Q11 is coupled to the input voltage Vin.

[0115] The controller 503 is used to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, respectively corresponding to a first charging procedure, a second charging procedure, at least one first discharging procedure and at least one second discharging procedure, and respectively operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connection relationship of the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. In one embodiment, the controller 503 may also adopt Figure 3The structure shown, for example, further includes a delay circuit for delaying the start time of the first charging procedure by a first delay time and / or the start time of the at least one first discharging procedure by a second delay time, and for delaying the start time of the second charging procedure by a third delay time and / or the start time of the at least one second discharging procedure by a fourth delay time.

[0116] Please refer to Figure 5 At least one current sensing circuit 504 is coupled to the first discharge inductor L2 and the second discharge inductor L12, and is configured to sense a first discharge resonant current flowing through the first discharge inductor L2 during the first discharge process, thereby generating a first current sensing signal I1, and to sense a second discharge resonant current flowing through the second discharge inductor L12 during the second discharge process, thereby generating a second current sensing signal I2. It should be appreciated that, in another embodiment, the at least one current sensing circuit 504 may also be coupled to the first charging inductor L3 and the second charging inductor L13, and is configured to sense a first charging resonant current flowing through the first charging inductor L3 during the first charging process, and to sense a second charging resonant current flowing through the second charging inductor L13 during the second charging process, thereby generating the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2, respectively.

[0117] The controller 503 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 504 and is used to adjust at least one of the following according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 501 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 502 are in a fixed ratio: the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time and the fourth delay time. The switch driver 505 is coupled between the controller 503 and the plurality of first switches Q1-Q10, and is coupled between the controller 503 and the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20, and is used to control the plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 according to the first charging operation signal G1A or the first discharging operation signal G1B, and is used to control the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 according to the second charging operation signal G2A or the second discharging operation signal G2B. In one embodiment, the current sensing circuit 504 may also be used Figure 3 The architecture shown.

[0118] The first switches Q1-Q10 can switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the first charging inductor L3 and the first discharging inductor L2 based on the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B generated by the controller 503. In a first charging process, the first switches Q1-Q4 are controlled to be conductive and the first switches Q5-Q10 are controlled to be non-conductive based on the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B. This allows the first capacitors C1-C3 to be connected in series with each other and the first charging inductor L3 between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout, thereby forming a first charging path. In a first discharging process, the first switches Q5-Q10 are controlled to be conductive and the first switches Q1-Q4 are controlled to be non-conductive based on the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B. This allows the first capacitors C1, C2, and C3 to be connected in parallel with each other and in series with the first discharging inductor L2, thereby forming multiple first discharging paths.

[0119] Similarly, the second switches Q11-Q20 can switch the electrical connections between the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13 and the second charging inductor L13 and the second discharging inductor L12 according to the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B generated by the controller 503. In a second charging process, the second switches Q11-Q14 are controlled to be conductive and the second switches Q15-Q20 to be non-conductive according to the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B. This allows the second capacitors C11-C13 to be connected in series with each other and the second charging inductor L13, forming a second charging path between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout. In a second discharge process, the second switches Q15-Q20 are controlled to be conductive and the second switches Q11-Q14 to be non-conductive according to the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B. This causes the second capacitors C11, C12, and C13 to be connected in parallel and then connected in series with the second discharge inductor L12, thereby forming a plurality of second discharge paths.

[0120] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6As shown, the resonant switching power converter 60 of the present invention includes a first power stage circuit 601 and a second power stage circuit 602. The first power stage circuit 601 and the second power stage circuit 602 are connected in parallel between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout. The first power stage circuit 601 includes first capacitors C1, C2, and C3, first switches Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, and Q10, and first inductors L1, L2, and L3. The second power stage circuit 602 includes second capacitors C11, C12, and C13, second switches Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, and Q20, and second inductors L11, L12, and L13. The first switches Q1-Q3 are connected in series with the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3, respectively, and the first capacitors C1-C3 are connected in series with the corresponding first inductors L1-L3, respectively. The second switches Q11-Q13 are connected in series with corresponding second capacitors C11-C13, respectively, and the second capacitors C11-C13 are connected in series with corresponding second inductors L11-L13, respectively. It should be noted that the number of capacitors in the resonant switching power converter of the present invention is not limited to three as in this embodiment, but may also be two or four or more. The number of inductors is also not limited to three as in this embodiment, but may also be two or four or more. The number of components shown in this embodiment is merely for illustration of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention.

[0121] like Figure 6 As shown, one end of the first switch Q5 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q1 and the first capacitor C1, one end of the first switch Q6 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q2 and the first capacitor C2, and one end of the first switch Q7 is coupled to the node between the first switch Q3 and the first capacitor C3. One end of the first switch Q8 is coupled to the node between the first inductor L1 and the first switch Q2, one end of the first switch Q9 is coupled to the node between the first inductor L2 and the first switch Q3, and one end of the first switch Q10 is coupled to the node between the first inductor L3 and the first switch Q4. Figure 6 As shown, the other ends of the first switches Q5-Q7 are commonly coupled to the output voltage Vout. The other ends of the first switches Q8-Q10 are commonly coupled to the ground potential. The first switch Q4 is coupled between the first inductor L3 and the output voltage Vout. One end of the first switch Q1 is coupled to the input voltage Vin.

[0122] Similarly, one end of the second switch Q15 is coupled to a node between the second switch Q11 and the second capacitor C11, one end of the second switch Q16 is coupled to a node between the second switch Q12 and the second capacitor C12, and one end of the second switch Q17 is coupled to a node between the second switch Q13 and the second capacitor C13. One end of the second switch Q18 is coupled to a node between the second inductor L11 and the second switch Q12, one end of the second switch Q19 is coupled to a node between the second inductor L12 and the second switch Q13, and one end of the second switch Q20 is coupled to a node between the second inductor L13 and the second switch Q14. Figure 6 As shown, the other ends of the second switches Q15-Q17 are commonly coupled to the output voltage Vout. The other ends of the second switches Q18-Q20 are commonly coupled to the ground potential. The second switch Q14 is coupled between the second inductor L13 and the output voltage Vout. One end of the second switch Q11 is coupled to the input voltage Vin.

[0123] The controller 603 is used to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, respectively corresponding to a first charging procedure, a second charging procedure, at least one first discharging procedure and at least one second discharging procedure, and respectively operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connection relationship of the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. In one embodiment, the controller 603 may also adopt Figure 3 The structure shown, for example, further includes a delay circuit for delaying the start time of the first charging procedure by a first delay time and / or the start time of the at least one first discharging procedure by a second delay time, and for delaying the start time of the second charging procedure by a third delay time and / or the start time of the at least one second discharging procedure by a fourth delay time.

[0124] Please refer to Figure 6At least one current sensing circuit 604 is coupled to the first inductor L3 and to the second inductor L13, and is configured to sense a first charging resonant current flowing through the first inductor L3 during a first charging process and / or a first discharging resonant current flowing through the first inductor L3 during a first discharging process, and to generate a first current sensing signal I1 accordingly, and to sense a second charging resonant current flowing through the second inductor L13 during a second charging process and / or a second discharging resonant current flowing through the second inductor L13 during a second discharging process, and to generate a second current sensing signal I2 accordingly. It should be understood that, in another embodiment, at least one current sensing circuit 604 may also be coupled to the first inductor L2 and the second inductor L12 to sense a first charging resonant current flowing through the first inductor L2 during the first charging process and / or to sense a first discharging resonant current flowing through the first inductor L2 during the first discharging process, and to generate a first current sensing signal I1 accordingly, and to sense a second charging resonant current flowing through the second inductor L12 during the second charging process and / or to sense a second discharging resonant current flowing through the second inductor L12 during the second discharging process, and to generate a second current sensing signal I2 accordingly.

[0125] In yet another embodiment, at least one current sensing circuit 604 may also be coupled to the first inductor L1 and the second inductor L11 to sense a first charging resonant current flowing through the first inductor L1 during the first charging process and / or a first discharging resonant current flowing through the first inductor L1 during the first discharging process, thereby generating a first current sensing signal I1, respectively. Furthermore, the controller 603 may be coupled to the current sensing circuit 604 to sense a second charging resonant current flowing through the second inductor L11 during the second charging process and / or a second discharging resonant current flowing through the second inductor L11 during the second discharging process, thereby generating a second current sensing signal I2, respectively. The controller 603 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 604 to adjust at least one of the following based on the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 601 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 602 are in a fixed ratio: a first delay time, a second delay time, a third delay time, and a fourth delay time. The switch driver 605 is coupled between the controller 603 and the plurality of first switches Q1-Q10, and is coupled between the controller 603 and the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20, and is used to control the plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 according to the first charging operation signal G1A or the first discharging operation signal G1B, and is used to control the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 according to the second charging operation signal G2A or the second discharging operation signal G2B. In one embodiment, the current sensing circuit 604 may also be used. Figure 3 The architecture shown.

[0126] The first switches Q1-Q10 can switch the electrical connection between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and first inductors L1-L3 based on a first charging operation signal G1A and a first discharging operation signal G1B generated by the controller 603. In a first charging process, the first switches Q1-Q4 are controlled to be conductive and the first switches Q5-Q10 to be non-conductive based on the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B, so that the first capacitors C1-C3 and the first inductors L1-L3 are connected in series between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout, thereby forming a first charging path. In a first discharge process, the first switches Q5-Q10 are controlled to be conductive and the first switches Q1-Q4 to be non-conductive according to the first charge operation signal G1A and the first discharge operation signal G1B. This causes the first capacitor C1 and the corresponding first inductor L1 to be connected in series between the output voltage Vout and the ground potential, the first capacitor C2 and the corresponding first inductor L2 to be connected in series between the output voltage Vout and the ground potential, and the first capacitor C3 and the corresponding first inductor L3 to be connected in series between the output voltage Vout and the ground potential, thereby forming a plurality of first discharge paths.

[0127] The second switches Q11-Q20 can switch the electrical connection between the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13 and the second inductors L11-L13 based on the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B generated by the controller 603. In a second charging process, the second switches Q11-Q14 are controlled to be conductive and the second switches Q15-Q20 to be non-conductive based on the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B. This allows the second capacitors C11-C13 and the second inductors L11-L13 to be connected in series between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout, thereby forming a second charging path. In a second discharge process, the second switches Q15-Q20 are controlled to be conductive and the second switches Q11-Q14 to be non-conductive according to the second charge operation signal G2A and the second discharge operation signal G2B. This causes the second capacitor C11 and the corresponding second inductor L11 to be connected in series between the output voltage Vout and the ground potential, the second capacitor C12 and the corresponding second inductor L12 to be connected in series between the output voltage Vout and the ground potential, and the second capacitor C13 and the corresponding second inductor L13 to be connected in series between the output voltage Vout and the ground potential, thereby forming a plurality of second discharge paths.

[0128] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7As shown, the resonant switching power converter 70 includes a first power stage circuit 701 and a second power stage circuit 702. The first power stage circuit 701 and the second power stage circuit 702 are connected in parallel between an input voltage Vin and an output voltage Vout. The first power stage circuit 701 includes first resonant capacitors C1 and C3, at least one first non-resonant capacitor C2, first switches Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, Q7, Q8, Q9, Q10, and first resonant inductors L1 and L2. The second power stage circuit 702 includes second resonant capacitors C11 and C13, at least one second non-resonant capacitor C12, second switches Q11, Q12, Q13, Q14, Q15, Q16, Q17, Q18, Q19, Q20, and second resonant inductors L11 and L12.

[0129] like Figure 7 As shown, the controller 703 is configured to generate a first resonant operating signal G1, a second resonant operating signal G2, a third resonant operating signal G3, and a fourth resonant operating signal G4, corresponding to a first resonant process, a second resonant process, a third resonant process, and a fourth resonant process, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first resonant capacitors C1, C3 and the first non-resonant capacitor C2, and the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding second resonant capacitors C11, C13 and the second non-resonant capacitor C12.

[0130] The resonant switching power converter 70 includes at least one first resonant cavity, such as first resonant cavities 706 and 707. The first resonant cavity 706 has a first resonant capacitor C1 and a first resonant inductor L1 connected in series with each other, while the first resonant cavity 707 has a first resonant capacitor C3 and a first resonant inductor L2 connected in series with each other. The resonant switching power converter 70 also includes at least one second resonant cavity, such as second resonant cavities 708 and 709. The second resonant cavity 708 has a second resonant capacitor C11 and a second resonant inductor L11 connected in series with each other, while the second resonant cavity 709 has a second resonant capacitor C13 and a second resonant inductor L12 connected in series with each other. In one embodiment, the controller 703 may also adopt Figure 3 The architecture shown, for example, further includes a delay circuit for delaying the starting time point of the first resonance procedure by a first delay time and / or the starting time point of the second resonance procedure by a second delay time, and for delaying the starting time point of the third resonance procedure by a third delay time and / or the starting time point of the fourth resonance procedure by a fourth delay time.

[0131] Please refer to Figure 7At least one current sensing circuit 704 is coupled to the first resonant inductor L2 and the second resonant inductor L12, and is configured to sense a first resonant current flowing through the first resonant inductor L2 during the first resonant process and / or sense a second resonant current flowing through the first resonant inductor L2 during the second resonant process, and to generate a first current sensing signal I1 accordingly, and to sense a third resonant current flowing through the second resonant inductor L12 during the third resonant process and / or sense a fourth resonant current flowing through the second resonant inductor L12 during the fourth resonant process, and to generate a second current sensing signal I2 accordingly. It should be understood that, in another embodiment, at least one current sensing circuit 704 may also be coupled to the first resonant inductor L1 and the second resonant inductor L11 to sense a first resonant current flowing through the first resonant inductor L1 during the first resonant process and / or to sense a second resonant current flowing through the first resonant inductor L1 during the second resonant process, and to generate a first current sensing signal I1 accordingly, and to sense a third resonant current flowing through the second resonant inductor L11 during the third resonant process and / or to sense a fourth resonant current flowing through the second resonant inductor L11 during the fourth resonant process, and to generate a second current sensing signal I2 accordingly.

[0132] The controller 703 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 704 and is configured to adjust at least one of the following based on the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 701 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 702 are in a fixed ratio: a first delay time, a second delay time, a third delay time, and a fourth delay time. The switch driver 705 is coupled between the controller 703 and the plurality of first switches Q1-Q10, and between the controller 703 and the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20, and is configured to control the plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 based on the first resonant operating signal G1 or the second resonant operating signal G2, and to control the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 based on the third resonant operating signal G3 or the fourth resonant operating signal G4.

[0133] Specifically, the plurality of switch drivers 705 shown in the figure generate corresponding drive signals G1', G2', G3', and G4' based on the first resonant operating signal G1, the second resonant operating signal G2, the third resonant operating signal G3, and the fourth resonant operating signal G4, respectively, to drive the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the plurality of second switches Q11-Q20. In one embodiment, the drive signals G1', G2', G3', and G4' are in phase with the corresponding first resonant operating signal G1, the second resonant operating signal G2, the third resonant operating signal G3, and the fourth resonant operating signal G4, respectively.

[0134] In one embodiment, the current sensing circuit 704 may also be configured as Figure 3 The first resonance operation signal G1, the second resonance operation signal G2, the third resonance operation signal G3 and the fourth resonance operation signal G4 correspond to Figure 3 The first charging operation signal G1A, the first discharging operation signal G1B, the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B are respectively corresponding to the driving signals G1', G2', G3' and G4'.

[0135] First switches Q1-Q10 are coupled to at least one first resonant cavity 706 or 707, and switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first resonant cavity 706 or 707 according to a corresponding first resonant operating signal G1 and a corresponding second resonant operating signal G2, respectively, corresponding to a first resonant process or a second resonant process. Second switches Q11-Q20 are coupled to at least one second resonant cavity 708 or 709, and switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding second resonant cavity 708 or 709 according to a corresponding third resonant operating signal G3 and a corresponding fourth resonant operating signal G4, respectively, corresponding to a third resonant process or a fourth resonant process. In the first resonant process, the corresponding resonant cavity 706 or 707 undergoes resonant charging, while in the second resonant process, the corresponding resonant cavity 706 or 707 undergoes resonant discharge. In the third resonant process, the corresponding resonant cavity 708 or 709 undergoes resonant charging, while in the fourth resonant process, the corresponding resonant cavity 708 or 709 undergoes resonant discharge.

[0136] At least one first non-resonant capacitor C2 is coupled to at least one first resonant cavity 706, 707. A first resonant operating signal G1 and a second resonant operating signal G2 switch the electrical connection between the first non-resonant capacitor C2 and the at least one first resonant cavity 706, 707. At least one second non-resonant capacitor C12 is coupled to at least one second resonant cavity 708, 709. A third resonant operating signal G3 and a fourth resonant operating signal G4 switch the electrical connection between the second non-resonant capacitor C12 and the at least one second resonant cavity 708, 709. The voltage across the first non-resonant capacitor C2 and the second non-resonant capacitor C12 is maintained at a fixed ratio to the input voltage Vin, for example, half the input voltage Vin in this embodiment.

[0137] The first resonance process and the second resonance process are repeatedly interleaved with each other, and the third resonance process and the fourth resonance process are repeatedly interleaved with each other to convert the input voltage Vin into the output voltage Vout. The first resonance operating signal G1 and the second resonance operating signal G2 are each switched to a conduction level for a conduction period, and the third resonance operating signal G3 and the fourth resonance operating signal G4 are each switched to a conduction level for a conduction period. The multiple conduction periods of the first resonance operating signal G1 and the second resonance operating signal G2 do not overlap, so that the first resonance process and the second resonance process do not overlap. The multiple conduction periods of the third resonance operating signal G3 and the fourth resonance operating signal G4 do not overlap, so that the third resonance process and the fourth resonance process do not overlap.

[0138] In the first resonant process, according to the first resonant operating signal G1, the first switches Q1, Q3, Q5, Q8, and Q9 are turned on, and the first switches Q2, Q4, Q6, Q7, and Q10 are turned off. This causes the first resonant capacitor C1 and the first resonant inductor L1 of the first resonant cavity 706 to be connected in series between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout, and causes the first non-resonant capacitor C2 and the first resonant capacitor C3 and the first resonant inductor L2 of the first resonant cavity 707 to be connected in series between the ground potential and the output voltage Vout. This charges the first resonant capacitors C1 and C3, and discharges the first non-resonant capacitor C2. In the second resonance process, according to the second resonance operating signal G2, the first switches Q2, Q4, Q6, Q7, and Q10 are turned on, and the first switches Q1, Q3, Q5, Q8, and Q9 are turned off. This causes the first non-resonant capacitor C2, the first resonant capacitor C1 of the first resonant cavity 706, and the first resonant inductor L1 to be connected in series between the ground potential and the output voltage Vout. Furthermore, the first resonant capacitor C3 of the first resonant cavity 707 and the first resonant inductor L2 are connected in series between the ground potential and the output voltage Vout. This discharges the first resonant capacitors C1 and C3, and charges the first non-resonant capacitor C2.

[0139] In the third resonance process, according to the third resonance operating signal G3, the second switches Q11, Q13, Q15, Q18, and Q19 are turned on, and the second switches Q12, Q14, Q16, Q17, and Q20 are turned off. This causes the second resonant capacitor C11 and the second resonant inductor L11 of the second resonant cavity 708 to be connected in series between the input voltage Vin and the output voltage Vout, and causes the second non-resonant capacitor C12 and the second resonant capacitor C13 and the second resonant inductor L12 of the second resonant cavity 709 to be connected in series between the ground potential and the output voltage Vout. This charges the second resonant capacitors C11 and C13, and discharges the second non-resonant capacitor C12. In the fourth resonance process, according to the fourth resonance operating signal G4, the second switches Q12, Q14, Q16, Q17, and Q20 are turned on, and the second switches Q11, Q13, Q15, Q18, and Q19 are turned off. Therefore, the second non-resonant capacitor C12, the second resonant capacitor C11 of the second resonant cavity 708, and the second resonant inductor L11 are connected in series between the ground potential and the output voltage Vout. Furthermore, the second resonant capacitor C13 of the second resonant cavity 709 and the second resonant inductor L12 are connected in series between the ground potential and the output voltage Vout. Thus, the second resonant capacitors C11 and C13 are discharged, and the second non-resonant capacitor C12 is charged.

[0140] About Figure 7 The operation of the resonant switching power converter 70 with the resonant cavities 706 , 707 , 708 and 709 is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0141] Figure 8 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The difference is that this embodiment uses two input voltages, for example, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit convert the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively to generate the output voltage Vout, and Figure 2In one embodiment, the resonant switching power converter is configured as an interleaved power converter using an input voltage Vin. That is, when the first power stage circuit 801 of the resonant switching power converter 80 is in the first charging process, the second power stage circuit 802 is in the second discharging process. Similarly, when the first power stage circuit 801 of the resonant switching power converter 80 is in the first discharging process, the second power stage circuit 802 is in the second charging process. In other words, when the first switches Q1-Q4 receive the first charging operation signal G1A enabled from the controller 803, the second switches Q15-Q20 receive the second discharging operation signal G2B enabled from the controller 803. When the first switches Q5-Q10 receive the first discharging operation signal G1B enabled from the controller 803, the second switches Q11-Q14 receive the second charging operation signal G2A enabled from the controller 803.

[0142] In this embodiment, the first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first inductor L1, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second inductor L11, the current sensing circuit 804, the switch driver 805 and Figure 2 The first switches Q1-Q10, first capacitors C1-C3, first inductor L1, second switches Q11-20, second capacitors C11-C13, second inductor L11, current sensing circuit 204, and switch driver 205 are similar and are not described in detail herein. The controller 803 is configured to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B, and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, corresponding to a first charging process, a second charging process, at least one first discharging process, and at least one second discharging process, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. The controller 803 is further configured to generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and an input voltage adjustment signal Va2 to adjust the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2, respectively. The controller 803 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 804 for adjusting at least one of the input voltage Vin1 and the input voltage Vin2 according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 801 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 802 are in a fixed ratio.

[0143] Figure 9 is a circuit diagram showing a controller and a current sensing circuit in a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 8The averaging circuit 8031, the voltage sensing circuits 8041a and 8041b, the resistors Rcs1 and Rcs2, the capacitors Cs1 and Cs2, the conversion circuits 8042a and 8042b and the Figure 3 The averaging circuit 2031, voltage sensing circuits 2041a and 2041b, resistors Rcs1 and Rcs2, capacitors Cs1 and Cs2, and conversion circuits 2042a and 2042b of the embodiment are similar and therefore will not be described in detail. Figure 3 The difference between the embodiments is that the adjustment circuits 8032a and 8032b in the controller 803 of this embodiment are coupled to the averaging circuit 8031 and at least one current sensing circuit 804 to compare the current average signal Iavg with the first current sensing signal I1 or the second current sensing signal I2, and generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and Va2 to the input voltage Vin1 and Vin2 respectively.

[0144] The input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 are increased or decreased, respectively, based on the input voltage adjustment signals Va1 and Va2, to maintain a fixed ratio between the output current of the first power stage circuit 801 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 802. Since increasing the input voltage increases the output power, the output current of the corresponding power stage circuit can be increased. Specifically, in one embodiment, at least one of the following adjustment methods can be performed to maintain a fixed ratio between the output current of the first power stage circuit 801 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 802: when the first current sensing signal I1 is greater than the average current signal Iavg, the input voltage Vin1 is reduced; when the first current sensing signal I1 is less than the average current signal Iavg, the input voltage Vin1 is increased; when the second current sensing signal I2 is greater than the average current signal Iavg, the input voltage Vin2 is reduced; when the second current sensing signal I2 is less than the average current signal Iavg, the input voltage Vin2 is increased.

[0145] Figure 10 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 The difference between the embodiment of the present invention is that the present embodiment uses two input voltages, for example, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit convert the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively to generate the output voltage Vout, and Figure 5In one embodiment, the resonant switching power converter 100 utilizes an input voltage Vin. In one embodiment, the resonant switching power converter 100 is configured as an interleaved power converter. That is, while the first power stage 1001 of the resonant switching power converter 100 is in the first charging process, the second power stage 1002 is in the second discharging process. Similarly, while the first power stage 1001 of the resonant switching power converter 100 is in the first discharging process, the second power stage 1002 is in the second charging process. In other words, when the first switches Q1-Q4 receive the first charging operation signal G1A enabled from the controller 1003, the second switches Q15-Q20 receive the second discharging operation signal G2B enabled from the controller 1003. When the first switches Q5-Q10 receive the first discharging operation signal G1B enabled from the controller 1003, the second switches Q11-Q14 receive the second charging operation signal G2A enabled from the controller 1003.

[0146] In this embodiment, the first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first charging inductor L3, the first discharging inductor L2, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second charging inductor L13, the second discharging inductor L12, the current sensing circuit 1004, the switch driver 1005 and Figure 5 The first switches Q1-Q10, first capacitors C1-C3, first charging inductor L3, first discharging inductor L2, second switches Q11-20, second capacitors C11-C13, second charging inductor L13, second discharging inductor L12, current sensing circuit 504, and switch driver 505 are similar and are not described in detail herein. The controller 1003 is configured to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B, and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, corresponding to a first charging procedure, a second charging procedure, at least one first discharging procedure, and at least one second discharging procedure, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. The controller 1003 can also be used to generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and an input voltage adjustment signal Va2 to adjust the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively. The controller 1003 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 1004 to adjust at least one of the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1001 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1002 are in a fixed ratio. In one embodiment, the controller 1003 and the current sensing circuit 1004 can also be used. Figure 9 The architecture shown.

[0147] Figure 11 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 The difference between the embodiment of the present invention is that the present embodiment uses two input voltages, for example, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit convert the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively to generate the output voltage Vout, and Figure 6 In one embodiment, the resonant switching power converter 110 utilizes an input voltage Vin. In one embodiment, the resonant switching power converter 110 is configured as an interleaved power converter. That is, while the first power stage 1101 of the resonant switching power converter 110 is in the first charging process, the second power stage 1102 is in the second discharging process. Similarly, while the first power stage 1101 of the resonant switching power converter 110 is in the first discharging process, the second power stage 1102 is in the second charging process. In other words, when the first switches Q1-Q4 receive the first charging operation signal G1A enabled from the controller 1103, the second switches Q15-Q20 receive the second discharging operation signal G2B enabled from the controller 1103. When the first switches Q5-Q10 receive the first discharging operation signal G1B enabled from the controller 1103, the second switches Q11-Q14 receive the second charging operation signal G2A enabled from the controller 1103.

[0148] In this embodiment, the first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first inductors L1-L3, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second inductors L11-L13, the current sensing circuit 1104, the switch driver 1105 and Figure 6The first switches Q1-Q10, first capacitors C1-C3, first inductors L1-L3, second switches Q11-20, second capacitors C11-C13, second inductors L11-L13, current sensing circuit 604, and switch driver 605 are similar and are not described in detail herein. The controller 1103 is configured to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B, and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, corresponding to a first charging process, a second charging process, at least one first discharging process, and at least one second discharging process, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. The controller 1103 is further configured to generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and an input voltage adjustment signal Va2 to adjust the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2, respectively. The controller 1103 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 1104 and is used to adjust at least one of the input voltage Vin1 and the input voltage Vin2 according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1101 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1102 are in a fixed ratio. In one embodiment, the controller 1103 and the current sensing circuit 1104 can also adopt Figure 9 The architecture shown.

[0149] Figure 12 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 The difference between the embodiment of the present invention is that the present embodiment uses two input voltages, for example, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit convert the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively to generate the output voltage Vout, and Figure 7In one embodiment, the resonant switching power converter 120 is configured as an interleaved power converter using an input voltage Vin. That is, when the first power stage 1201 of the resonant switching power converter 120 is in the first resonant operation, the second power stage 1202 is in the fourth resonant operation. Similarly, when the first power stage 1201 of the resonant switching power converter 120 is in the second resonant operation, the second power stage 1202 is in the third resonant operation. In other words, when the first switches Q1-Q5 receive the enable signal G1 of the first resonant operation from the controller 1203, the second switches Q16-Q20 receive the enable signal G4 of the fourth resonant operation from the controller 1203. When the first switches Q6-Q10 receive the enable signal G2 of the second resonant operation from the controller 1203, the second switches Q11-Q15 receive the enable signal G3 of the third resonant operation from the controller 1203.

[0150] In this embodiment, the first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first inductors L1-L2, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second inductors L11-L12, the current sensing circuit 1204, the switch driver 1205 and Figure 7 The first switches Q1-Q10, first capacitors C1-C3, first inductors L1-L2, second switches Q11-20, second capacitors C11-C13, second inductors L11-L12, current sensing circuit 704, and switch driver 705 are similar and are not described in detail herein. The controller 1203 is configured to generate a first resonant operating signal G1, a second resonant operating signal G2, a third resonant operating signal G3, and a fourth resonant operating signal G4, corresponding to a first resonant process, a second resonant process, a third resonant process, and a fourth resonant process, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. The controller 1203 is further configured to generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and an input voltage adjustment signal Va2 to adjust the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2, respectively. The controller 1203 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 1204 and is used to adjust at least one of the input voltage Vin1 and the input voltage Vin2 according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1201 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1202 are in a fixed ratio. In one embodiment, the controller 1203 and the current sensing circuit 1204 can also adopt Figure 9 The architecture shown.

[0151] Figure 13FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The difference is that this embodiment uses two input voltages, for example, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit convert the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively to generate the output voltage Vout, and Figure 2 The embodiment of the present invention adopts an input voltage Vin. The first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first inductor L1, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second inductor L11, the current sensing circuit 1304, the switch driver 1305 and the Figure 2 The first switches Q1-Q10, first capacitors C1-C3, first inductor L1, second switches Q11-20, second capacitors C11-C13, second inductor L11, current sensing circuit 204, and switch driver 205 are similar and are not described in detail herein. The controller 1303 is configured to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B, and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, corresponding to a first charging process, a second charging process, at least one first discharging process, and at least one second discharging process, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. The controller 1303 is further configured to generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and an input voltage adjustment signal Va2 to adjust the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2, respectively. The controller 1303 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 1304 and is configured to adjust at least one of the following according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1301 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1302 are in a fixed ratio: the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time, the fourth delay time, the input voltage Vin1, and the input voltage Vin2. In one embodiment, the first power stage circuit 1301 and the second power stage circuit 1302 can be configured as described above. Figure 8 The interleaved power converter described in the embodiment of FIG. 1 , that is, the operating phases of the first power stage circuit 1301 and the second power stage circuit 1302 may be interleaved with each other.

[0152] It should be noted that controller 1303 can determine the starting time and duration of the charging and discharging processes in a variety of ways. In one embodiment, for example, a loop control signal can be generated based on the output voltage Vout or the output current to determine the starting time and duration of the charging and discharging processes. In another embodiment, the starting time and duration of the charging and discharging processes can be determined based on the time when the inductor current crosses zero current. The aforementioned current balancing control can further be achieved by controlling the aforementioned delay time or input voltage to maintain a fixed ratio between the output currents of the power stage circuits or to achieve current balance.

[0153] Figure 14 is a circuit diagram showing a controller and a current sensing circuit in a resonant switching power converter according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 13 The averaging circuit 13031, the voltage sensing circuits 13041a and 13041b, the resistors Rcs1 and Rcs2, the capacitors Cs1 and Cs2, the conversion circuits 13042a and 13042b and the Figure 3 The averaging circuit 2031, voltage sensing circuits 2041a and 2041b, resistors Rcs1 and Rcs2, capacitors Cs1 and Cs2, and conversion circuits 2042a and 2042b of the embodiment are similar and therefore will not be described in detail. Figure 3 The difference between the present embodiment and the present embodiment lies in that the adjustment circuits 13032a and 13032b in the controller 1303 of this embodiment are coupled to the averaging circuit 13031 and at least one current sensing circuit 1304 to compare the current average signal Iavg with the first current sensing signal I1 or the second current sensing signal I2, and respectively generate input voltage adjustment signals Va1 and Va2 for the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 and / or generate delay time adjustment signals Ta1 and Ta2 for the delay circuits 13033a and 13033b. In other words, this embodiment can adjust the delay time and / or the corresponding input voltage based on the current sensing signal to achieve current balancing. In one embodiment, the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 are increased or decreased based on the input voltage adjustment signals Va1 and Va2, respectively, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1301 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1302 are in a fixed ratio. In one embodiment, the delay circuits 13033a and 13033b modify the first delay time and the second delay time, or the third delay time and the fourth delay time, respectively according to the delay time adjustment signals Ta1 and Ta2, and generate the first charging operation signal G1A and the first discharging operation signal G1B and the second charging operation signal G2A and the second discharging operation signal G2B, respectively, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1301 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1302 are in the fixed ratio.

[0154] In one embodiment, when the first current sensing signal I1 is greater than the current average signal Iavg, the input voltage Vin1 is reduced; when the first current sensing signal I1 is less than the current average signal Iavg, the input voltage Vin1 is increased. When the second current sensing signal I2 is greater than the current average signal Iavg, the input voltage Vin2 is reduced; when the second current sensing signal I2 is less than the current average signal Iavg, the input voltage Vin2 is increased. In one embodiment, when the first current sensing signal I1 is greater than the current average signal Iavg, the first delay time and / or the second delay time are extended; when the first current sensing signal I1 is less than the current average signal Iavg, the first delay time and / or the second delay time are shortened. When the second current sensing signal I2 is greater than the current average signal Iavg, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time are extended; when the second current sensing signal I2 is less than the current average signal Iavg, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time are shortened.

[0155] Figure 15 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5 The difference between the embodiment of the present invention is that the present embodiment uses two input voltages, for example, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit convert the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively to generate the output voltage Vout, and Figure 5 The embodiment of the present invention adopts an input voltage Vin. The first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first charging inductor L3, the first discharging inductor L2, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second charging inductor L13, the second discharging inductor L12, the current sensing circuit 1504, the switch driver 1505 and the Figure 5 The first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first charging inductor L3, the first discharging inductor L2, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second charging inductor L13, the second discharging inductor L12, the current sensing circuit 504, and the switch driver 505 are similar and thus are not described in detail.

[0156] Controller 1503 is configured to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B, and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, corresponding to a first charging process, a second charging process, at least one first discharging process, and at least one second discharging process, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connections between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. Controller 1503 is also configured to generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and an input voltage adjustment signal Va2 to adjust the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2, respectively. The controller 1503 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 1504 and is used to adjust at least one of the following according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1501 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1502 are in a fixed ratio: the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time, the fourth delay time, the input voltage Vin1 and the input voltage Vin2. In one embodiment, the controller 1503 and the current sensing circuit 1504 may also adopt Figure 14 In one embodiment, the first power stage circuit 1501 and the second power stage circuit 1502 can be configured as described above. Figure 10 The interleaved power converter described in the embodiment of FIG. 1 , that is, the operating phases of the first power stage circuit 1501 and the second power stage circuit 1502 may be interleaved with each other.

[0157] Figure 16 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 6 The difference between the embodiment of the present invention is that the present embodiment uses two input voltages, for example, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit convert the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively to generate the output voltage Vout, and Figure 6 The embodiment of the present invention adopts an input voltage Vin. The first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first inductors L1-L3, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second inductors L11-L13, the current sensing circuit 1604, the switch driver 1605 and the Figure 6 The first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first inductors L1-L3, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second inductors L11-L13, the current sensing circuit 604, and the switch driver 605 are similar and thus are not described in detail.

[0158] Controller 1603 is configured to generate a first charging operation signal G1A, a second charging operation signal G2A, at least one first discharging operation signal G1B, and at least one second discharging operation signal G2B, corresponding to a first charging process, a second charging process, at least one first discharging process, and at least one second discharging process, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to respectively switch the electrical connections between the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13. Controller 1603 is also configured to generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and an input voltage adjustment signal Va2 to adjust the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2, respectively. The controller 1603 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 1604 and is used to adjust at least one of the following according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1601 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1602 are in a fixed ratio: the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time, the fourth delay time, the input voltage Vin1 and the input voltage Vin2. In one embodiment, the controller 1603 and the current sensing circuit 1604 may also adopt Figure 14 In one embodiment, the first power stage circuit 1601 and the second power stage circuit 1602 can be configured as described above. Figure 11 The interleaved power converter described in the embodiment of FIG. 1 , that is, the operating phases of the first power stage circuit 1601 and the second power stage circuit 1602 can be interleaved with each other.

[0159] Figure 17 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7 The difference between the embodiment of the present invention is that the present embodiment uses two input voltages, for example, the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit convert the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2 respectively to generate the output voltage Vout, and Figure 7 The embodiment of the present invention adopts an input voltage Vin. The first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first inductors L1-L2, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second inductors L11-L12, the current sensing circuit 1704, the switch driver 1705 and the Figure 7 The first switches Q1-Q10, the first capacitors C1-C3, the first inductors L1-L2, the second switches Q11-20, the second capacitors C11-C13, the second inductors L11-L12, the current sensing circuit 704, and the switch driver 705 are similar and thus are not described in detail.

[0160] The controller 1703 is configured to generate a first resonant operating signal G1, a second resonant operating signal G2, a third resonant operating signal G3, and a fourth resonant operating signal G4, corresponding to a first resonant process, a second resonant process, a third resonant process, and a fourth resonant process, respectively, and to operate the corresponding plurality of first switches Q1-Q10 and the corresponding plurality of second switches Q11-Q20 to switch the electrical connections of the corresponding first capacitors C1-C3 and the corresponding second capacitors C11-C13, respectively. The controller 1703 is also configured to generate an input voltage adjustment signal Va1 and an input voltage adjustment signal Va2 to adjust the input voltages Vin1 and Vin2, respectively. The controller 1703 is coupled to the current sensing circuit 1704 and is used to adjust at least one of the following according to the first current sensing signal I1 and the second current sensing signal I2 so that the output current of the first power stage circuit 1701 and the output current of the second power stage circuit 1702 are in a fixed ratio: the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time, the fourth delay time, the input voltage Vin1 and the input voltage Vin2. In one embodiment, the controller 1703 and the current sensing circuit 1704 may also adopt Figure 14 In one embodiment, the first power stage circuit 1701 and the second power stage circuit 1702 can be configured as described above. Figure 12 The interleaved power converter described in the embodiment of FIG. 1 , that is, the operating phases of the first power stage circuit 1701 and the second power stage circuit 1702 can be interleaved with each other.

[0161] Figure 18 FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a resonant switching power converter according to another embodiment of the present invention. Figure 2 The embodiment is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 1 , except that, in this embodiment, in the first power stage circuit 1801 and the first power stage 1802, during the corresponding discharge process, the first capacitors C1, C2, and C3 are discharged in turn, and the second capacitors C11, C12, and C13 are discharged in turn. In this embodiment, the first discharge operation signal G1B includes a plurality of corresponding sub-discharge operation signals, and the corresponding switch driver 1805 generates corresponding sub-drive signals G1x', G1y', and G1z' based on the corresponding sub-discharge operation signals to control the first switches Q5 and Q8, Q6 and Q9, and Q7 and Q10, respectively, to control the first capacitors C1, C2, and C3 to discharge in turn. The second discharge operation signal G2B includes a plurality of corresponding sub-discharge operation signals, and the corresponding switch driver 1805 generates corresponding sub-driving signals G2x', G2y', and G2z' according to the corresponding sub-discharge operation signals to respectively control the second switches Q15 and Q18, Q16 and Q19, and Q17 and Q20, so as to control the second capacitors C11, C12, and C13 to discharge in turn.

[0162] In this embodiment, the second delay time may correspond to at least one of the starting time points when the first capacitors C1, C2, and C3 are discharged in turn, and the fourth delay time may correspond to at least one of the starting time points when the second capacitors C11, C12, and C13 are discharged in turn.

[0163] As described above, the present invention provides a resonant switching power converter that controls by sensing and comparing the currents of multiple power stage circuits. This enables the resonant switching power converter having multiple power stage circuits to achieve current balancing control, eliminates the need for additional current sensing resistors, reduces inrush current, and has higher efficiency than conventional power converters.

[0164] The present invention has been described above with respect to the preferred embodiments, but the above description is only for those skilled in the art to easily understand the content of the present invention and is not intended to limit the broadest scope of the present invention. The various embodiments described are not limited to individual applications, but can also be applied in combination. For example, two or more embodiments can be used in combination, and part of the components in one embodiment can also be used to replace the corresponding components in another embodiment. In addition, under the same spirit of the present invention, those skilled in the art can think of various equivalent changes and various combinations. For example, the present invention refers to "processing or calculating or generating an output result according to a certain signal", which is not limited to the signal itself, but also includes, when necessary, performing voltage-to-current conversion, current-to-voltage conversion, and / or ratio conversion on the signal, and then processing or calculating the converted signal to generate an output result. It can be seen that under the same spirit of the present invention, those skilled in the art can think of various equivalent changes and various combinations, and there are many combinations, which are not listed here one by one. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should cover the above and all other equivalent changes.

Claims

1. A resonant switching power converter for converting one or two input voltages into an output voltage, the resonant switching power converter comprising: A first power stage circuit comprising: a plurality of first capacitors; at least one first charging inductor; at least one first discharge inductor; as well as a plurality of first switches for switching the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding plurality of first capacitors, the at least one first charging inductor, and the at least one first discharging inductor; a second power stage circuit, comprising: a plurality of second capacitors; at least one second charging inductor; at least one second discharge inductor; and a plurality of second switches for switching the electrical connection relationship between the corresponding plurality of second capacitors, the at least one second charging inductor, and the at least one second discharging inductor; as well as a controller for periodically operating the first switches and the second switches in a corresponding first charging process, a second charging process, at least one first discharging process, and at least one second discharging process; In the first charging process, the switching of the plurality of first switches is controlled so that the plurality of first capacitors and the at least one first charging inductor are connected in series between the one or two input voltages and the output voltage to form a first charging path; In the at least one first discharge process, the switching of the plurality of first switches is controlled so that each of the first capacitors and the corresponding first discharge inductor are connected in series between the output voltage and a ground potential, thereby forming a plurality of first discharge paths simultaneously or in turn; In the second charging process, the switching of the plurality of second switches is controlled so that the plurality of second capacitors and the at least one second charging inductor are connected in series between the one or two input voltages and the output voltage to form a second charging path; In the at least one second discharge process, the switching of the plurality of second switches is controlled so that each second capacitor and the corresponding second discharge inductor are connected in series between the output voltage and a ground potential, thereby forming a plurality of second discharge paths simultaneously or in turn; The controller is further configured to adjust at least one of the following based on a first current sensing signal and a second current sensing signal: a first delay time, a second delay time, a third delay time, and a fourth delay time, or the two input voltages, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in a fixed ratio; The first delay time is used to delay the start time of the first charging process, the second delay time is used to delay the start time of the at least one first discharging process, the third delay time is used to delay the start time of the second charging process, and the fourth delay time is used to delay the start time of the at least one second discharging process; The first current sensing signal is related to a first inductor current of the at least one first charging inductor and / or the at least one first discharging inductor, and the second current sensing signal is related to a second inductor current of the at least one second charging inductor and / or the at least one second discharging inductor.

2. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one first charging inductor is a first single charging inductor, the at least one first discharging inductor is a first single discharging inductor, the at least one second charging inductor is a second single charging inductor, and the at least one second discharging inductor is a second single discharging inductor.

3. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The at least one first charging inductor and the at least one first discharging inductor are a first single identical inductor, and the at least one second charging inductor and the at least one second discharging inductor are a second single identical inductor.

4. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The controller includes at least one current sensing circuit, and the at least one current sensing circuit includes: at least one voltage sensing circuit configured to sense a voltage difference across the at least one first charging inductor and / or the at least one first discharging inductor to generate a corresponding first voltage sensing signal, and to sense a voltage difference across the at least one second charging inductor and / or the at least one second discharging inductor to generate a corresponding second voltage sensing signal, wherein the first voltage sensing signal is related to a voltage across a parasitic resistor of the at least one first charging inductor and / or the at least one first discharging inductor, and the second voltage sensing signal is related to a voltage across a parasitic resistor of the at least one second charging inductor and / or the at least one second discharging inductor; and At least one conversion circuit is used to generate the first current sensing signal and the second current sensing signal according to the first voltage sensing signal and the second voltage sensing signal respectively.

5. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The controller also includes: an averaging circuit for averaging the first current sensing signal and the second current sensing signal to generate a current average signal; and At least one adjustment circuit is used to compare the current average signal with the first current sensing signal and / or compare the current average signal with the second current sensing signal to generate an adjustment signal to adjust at least one of the following: the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time and the fourth delay time, or the two input voltages so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio.

6. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 5, wherein: The fixed ratio is 1:

1.

7. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 5, wherein: The controller also includes: At least one delay circuit is used to generate the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time according to the adjustment signal, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio.

8. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 5, wherein: The controller adjusts at least one of the following: When the first current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, extending the first delay time and / or the second delay time; When the first current sensing signal is smaller than the current average signal, shortening the first delay time and / or the second delay time; When the second current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, extending the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time; and / or When the second current sensing signal is smaller than the current average signal, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time is shortened so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio.

9. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 5, wherein: The two input voltages include a first input voltage and a second input voltage, corresponding to the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit, respectively, wherein the controller adjusts at least one of the following: When the first current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, reducing the first input voltage; When the first current sensing signal is less than the current average signal, increasing the first input voltage; When the second current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, reducing the second input voltage; and / or When the second current sensing signal is less than the current average signal, the second input voltage is increased to make the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit form the fixed ratio.

10. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 9, wherein: The first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit perform corresponding charging and discharging procedures alternately.

11. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The resonant switching power converter is a bidirectional resonant switching power converter.

12. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 1, wherein: The voltage conversion ratio between the one or two input voltages and the output voltage of the resonant switching power converter is 4:1, 3:1 or 2:

1.

13. A resonant switching power converter for converting one or two input voltages into an output voltage, the resonant switching power converter comprising: A first power stage circuit comprising: At least one first resonant cavity, the first resonant cavity having a first resonant capacitor and a first resonant inductor connected in series; at least one first non-resonant capacitor; as well as a plurality of first switches coupled to the at least one first resonant cavity and the at least one first non-resonant capacitor, for switching the electrical connection between the corresponding first resonant cavity and the at least one first non-resonant capacitor, wherein in a first resonant process, the corresponding first resonant cavity is resonantly charged, and in a second resonant process, the corresponding first resonant cavity is resonantly discharged, wherein a voltage across the first non-resonant capacitor is maintained in a fixed ratio to the one or two input voltages; A second power stage circuit comprising: At least one second resonant cavity, the second resonant cavity having a second resonant capacitor and a second resonant inductor connected in series; at least one second non-resonant capacitor; a plurality of second switches coupled to the at least one second resonant cavity and the at least one second non-resonant capacitor for switching the electrical connection between the corresponding second resonant cavity and the at least one second non-resonant capacitor, wherein in a third resonant process, the corresponding second resonant cavity is resonantly charged, and in a fourth resonant process, the corresponding second resonant cavity is resonantly discharged, wherein a voltage across the second non-resonant capacitor is maintained in a fixed ratio to the one or two input voltages; as well as a controller for periodically operating the first switches and the second switches in the first, second, third, and fourth resonance procedures to perform corresponding resonant charging and resonant discharging; The controller is further configured to adjust at least one of the following based on a first current sensing signal and a second current sensing signal: a first delay time, a second delay time, a third delay time, and a fourth delay time, or the two input voltages, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in a fixed ratio; The first delay time is used to delay the start time of the first resonance process, the second delay time is used to delay the start time of the second resonance process, the third delay time is used to delay the start time of the third resonance process, and the fourth delay time is used to delay the start time of the fourth resonance process; The first current sensing signal is related to a first inductor current of the first resonant inductor, and the second current sensing signal is related to a second inductor current of the second resonant inductor.

14. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 13, wherein: The controller includes at least one current sensing circuit, and the at least one current sensing circuit includes: at least one voltage sensing circuit configured to sense a voltage difference across the first resonant inductor and generate a corresponding first voltage sensing signal, and to sense a voltage difference across the second resonant inductor and generate a corresponding second voltage sensing signal, wherein the first voltage sensing signal is related to a voltage across a parasitic resistor of the at least one first resonant inductor, and the second voltage sensing signal is related to a voltage across a parasitic resistor of the at least one second resonant inductor; and At least one conversion circuit is used to generate the first current sensing signal and the second current sensing signal according to the first voltage sensing signal and the second voltage sensing signal respectively.

15. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 13, wherein: The controller also includes: an averaging circuit for averaging the first current sensing signal and the second current sensing signal to generate a current average signal; and At least one adjustment circuit is used to compare the current average signal with the first current sensing signal and / or compare the current average signal with the second current sensing signal to generate an adjustment signal to adjust at least one of the following: the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time and the fourth delay time, or the two input voltages so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio.

16. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 15, wherein: The fixed ratio of the output current of the first power stage circuit to the output current of the second power stage circuit is 1:

1.

17. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 15, wherein: The controller also includes: At least one delay circuit is used to generate the first delay time, the second delay time, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time according to the adjustment signal, so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio.

18. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 15, wherein: The controller adjusts at least one of the following: When the first current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, extending the first delay time and / or the second delay time; When the first current sensing signal is smaller than the current average signal, shortening the first delay time and / or the second delay time; When the second current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, extending the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time; and / or When the second current sensing signal is smaller than the current average signal, the third delay time and / or the fourth delay time is shortened so that the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit are in the fixed ratio.

19. The resonant switching power converter according to claim 15, wherein: The two input voltages include a first input voltage and a second input voltage, corresponding to the first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit, respectively, wherein the controller adjusts at least one of the following: When the first current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, reducing the first input voltage; When the first current sensing signal is less than the current average signal, increasing the first input voltage; When the second current sensing signal is greater than the current average signal, reducing the second input voltage; and / or When the second current sensing signal is less than the current average signal, the second input voltage is increased to make the output current of the first power stage circuit and the output current of the second power stage circuit form the fixed ratio.

20. The resonant switching power converter of claim 19, wherein: The first power stage circuit and the second power stage circuit alternately perform corresponding resonant charging and resonant discharging procedures.

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